|
Post by T on Jan 24, 2019 20:55:40 GMT -5
Though his semi-righteous harangue came to an end, the tears flowing from the witch did not. He stared at the table awkwardly while the detail took place. No objections or reprimands were present. The traveller simply decided to let this happen. His soul was not devoid of empathy- quite the opposite, in fact. Russ had no idea what she experienced in the past, but he could understand how trust can be a painful concept to embrace or; worse still; let go.
When next addressed, he grimaced slightly at the honorific used. That needed some getting used to. Titles were something the young man felt unease about, but he would try to bear it for the sake of his companion. After all, she lacked any complaints about the nickname given. A small nod confirmed his attention. Though, the next series of questions were difficult to keep up with in terms of sheer speed and quantity.
“Senzu Bean- I call them magic beans sometimes.” The first query was easy enough to answer with a short sentence; as was her next. “And I learnt Instant Transmission from an alien dude.” Harder still, the last topic tied all three together. He leaned back onto the backrest of his chair. One arm folded over the bicep of another while a finger raised to prod his own chin. The brief pause between replies allowed him to gather his bearings.
“In heaven, I learnt it from a Xeno in heaven.” At last, confession took place. Unease stirred within the depths of Russ’ stomach. Sitting with surface-level calmness, his mind felt shaky. If and when questioned about the halo, he always failed to lie about it. Whether it was because he held truth as a virtue or some other reason, he did not know.“I haven’t told you this before, buuuuuuuut...”
With an equally warm yet entirely-forced smile, the young man went on to tell her the truth. “I’m dead.” Nervousness was always a given when talking about this topic. At most, it would have been a passing announcement in a conversation upon introduction. Now, it felt to him as if he had been lying to an acquaintance the whole time. “I’ve been dead for two to three years now.” Hope dwelled in his mind that the revelation would not change anything. Still, the anticipation of a worse outcome remained with him. It was quite an important thing to not mention when meeting someone new, after all.
( Word Count : 0, 430 ) [ Total Word Count : 5, 010 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Jan 25, 2019 14:06:05 GMT -5
To Lilith’s immense delight, the polite man... no, friend actually humored her questions. A spark of excitement lit up her usually frigid features. She clicked her fingers and from nowhere an inky quill appeared. One of the tomes from the bookshelf flew onto the table and fluttered open. The quill started dancing on an empty page, making careful notes of everything he said. This time she felt far better prepared to deal with unexpected new information. After that heartfelt revelation, nothing would surprise her anymore.
Not even hearing about the fabled Senzu Beans could shake the girl’s resolve. If anything, it just proved her knowledge correct. "Fitting." She nodded in agreement with the nickname. The next question was where her friend had gotten his hands on them... A question which he would accidentally answer soon enough. First there was a small hurdle though. "Alien... dude...?" Even as she repeated the word choice, she had to stop the quill from writing it down. There was a more proper word for it, yes... Xeno. That was it.
...Wait, did he just say-?
Just then, the last surprise shattered Lilith’s concentration. "...Pardon?" The quizzical question simply slipped from her lips. Of course she thought she misheard. Or that it was supposed to be some manner of joke. Yet as the man clarified, it became rather apparent that he wasn’t joking. Unless he was very dedicated to the punchline. As none came though, she was left silently staring at him. The quill stopped writing. Slowly the crimson eyes blinked. Once. Twice. For someone with a supposedly sharp mind, she certainly was struggling with the concept.
The baffled witch shifted her gaze onto the notes. Beans. Alien. Heaven. Dead. Words twirled around her head in dizzying patterns. Suddenly her gaze widened. "...Yes, of course. So that’s how it is." It was the missing piece. The quill started its dance with renewed fervor. And something unusual happened... She finally found a warm smile. Honest excitement shined in those crimson eyes. At last so many of her questions received a definitive answer. Having spent all her life around the supernatural -and knowing Russ was hopelessly honest- she had no reason to doubt the claim.
As the quill’s dance reached its end, the young noble offered a gracious nod. "Thank you. This was quite enlightening." No, she wasn’t upset that he hadn’t told her sooner. It was simply that she hadn’t even thought to ask until now. Her interests could sometimes be... rather specific. "Just one more thing, I mean if you don’t mind..." The noise. Well, she wanted to call it ungodly racket, but ultimately managed to refrain from being too callous. Yet she also waved the question away. "Hm, no, never mind. I do believe I have pried enough into your private matters." Seeing as she wasn’t the type to ever open her heart, it would have been presumptuous to push the matter. Maybe some other time. Words: 502 [Total = 4651] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Jan 26, 2019 3:48:59 GMT -5
Russ could hardly believe the reaction to his news to be true. An index finger scratched the back of his right ear. Of course, it was nothing to get angry about- it hardly affected her. Astonishment came from the fact that cold indifference transformed into childlike wonder. The air felt oddly lighter than before. Now that the exchange came to an end, the boy stood up to place a lid on the pot ahead.“Mrm, I’ve got to keep doing that thing now too.” His own bowl turned cold over time. Hence, he lowered it to the floor as an offering for her pet.
Now that he thought about it, completing the task should take another day or two of work. Presumably, the level of noise produced by mysterious processes needed to be lowered by a couple dozen decibels or so. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he announced prior to approaching the door. Yet before leaving, he paused. Looking over a shoulder, the boy had a toothy grin on his face.
“Oh, and you can keep the pot and heat up the rest for later.” And with that said, he left. Then and only there was he greeted by the sight of amber beams shining down from a setting sun on the horizon. A hand scrambled to retrieve an electronic tablet from his pocket. How much time had elapsed during his time in there?
Six o’ clock. Six hours passed during the moments of crying, questioning, and having lunch.
[ 6:00 p.m ] Strange Woods - Lillith’s Clearing
Orange leaves drifted down from branches at long last. Scattered birdsong filled the air around them in sparse pockets here and there. While even plants swayed in the gentle wind, time felt frozen. It was moments like these that he disregarded so often in the past. Now, it seemed as though Russ could barely catch his breath without some cataclysmic event happening both on and off Earth. Nevertheless, he was always glad to be able to help.
When he was finally in the middle of the clearing, Russ stopped. Hands curved around the side of his mouth as he shouted at the top of his lungs. “I’m going to keep on trying my best tomorrow!” Fiery spirit leapt out of nowhere. His voice echoed through the otherwise lazy forests. “And the day after too!” Whether this was a message to Lillith, himself, or to the world at large, he did not know. “You hear me?” Whatever it was, he felt energised all over again.
He was a weirdo in his own right, he supposed. Being ‘normal’ in a universe full of quirky characters might as well be considered the complete opposite of its meaning. Not much thought had been given to what he might do the next day. The young man retreated back into his humongous cube-tent to continue work on an apparently secret project.
Little to no sounds were produced thereafter.
( Word Count : 0, 542 ) [ Total Word Count : 5, 552 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Jan 26, 2019 15:19:29 GMT -5
Time worked in mysterious ways. Sometimes it crawled, stretching seconds into a small eternity. Especially during painfully awkward moments... At other times it flew ahead, skipping hours even. Lilith was surprised to find herself living the latter. It had been so long since she had simply... gotten lost in the moment, as it were. She glanced up from her notes to see Russ heading outside again. While she was still beyond curious, she respected her earlier promise. "Ah, yes... This mysterious thing. Very well then. You may keep your secrets." Her pet familiar, on the other hand, was bouncing excitedly around its new meal. If the guest’s plan was to make a new friend, it was working. The cold soup was gulped down, bowl and all, without any hesitation. A fed mimic was a happy mimic.
As the friend left, the witch turned a skeptical glance at the pot. Well, it had been good, but... For the picky noble, the idea of reheated soup didn’t exactly sound appetizing. No, tomorrow she would be the one to cook. Well, conjure food actually, but the sentiment was the same. Her train of thought crashed when sudden hollering stole her attention. She could merely shake her head and sigh. What a strange man... Still, he wasn’t bad. Just different. Dare she say... refreshing? In fact, his little spiel inspired her to catch up on some of her research... And so time slipped past her again, running off before she even noticed.
Before long, the veil of night slowly spread over the forest. The silver moon rose to the sky. Under the veil, all manner of strange and mischievous creatures came out to play. Curiously they circled around the tent, whispering among each other, playing a guessing game on what it was hiding. As much as they wanted to peek, none dared to for Mistress had forbidden it. Said Mistress had fallen asleep at her table, surrounded by papers and head resting against an open book. The chest creature was snoring quietly at her feet. It had been a long and frankly exhausting day. She slept soundly through the night. Even the morning sun couldn’t get her to stir. Words: 369 [Total = 5020] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Jan 26, 2019 22:50:55 GMT -5
[ 8:00 a.m ]
From the moment he left the house to the early hours of morning, progress had been made towards the greater project at hand. Neither a peep, nor a squeak sounded out this time. However, shadowy figures might have been seen dancing back and forth under the cover of thick curtains. One could hardly say that nothing happened. Whatever lurked within the depths of that strange block remained a mystery for now- the only known being exiting from it was the young Saiyan himself.
Said Saiyan then appeared to emerge with a small plastic cup in one hand and a toothbrush in the other. Bubbles and foam spread from his mouth as the boy scrubbed his teeth. Oral hygiene was paramount to being powerful- surpassed only by proper nutrition and mental health.
After finishing the morning ritual of cleanliness, Russ proceeded towards the hut. He had not planned for much today. Checking up on the state of his friend’s health was a given, but his mind was empty in other aspects concerning their schedule. Perhaps it may have been the drowsiness lingering. After all, he was not a morning person either.
A finger raised to knock three times upon the surface of the door. This time, he made sure to stay outside instead of wandering in without a second thought. “Awake yet?” If she was not, the noise made might have remedied that- though wholly unintended on his part. Thereafter, he awaited a response. The young man found this scenario strange if nothing else. He felt as if a close friend or relative should be fulfilling this role. All things considered, they knew each other for months and this was the second day of his second time visiting.
His cheeks suddenly lit up with a shade of red. Why was he nervous all of a sudden? There was nothing inherently weird about this. Nothing strange in the slightest. What he needed to do now was calm down. Yes. Calm. That would work. Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes and crossed both arms. Allow one’s thoughts to settle.
Peanuts. He was thinking about peanuts.
( Word Count : 0, 378 ) [ Total Word Count : 5, 930 ]
Majin Zam
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Jan 27, 2019 8:22:08 GMT -5
Three knocks echoed through the hut. The polite question received no response. Soon, however, the magical lock clicked open and the door slid ajar with a strained cry of dry hinges. Russ was greeted by... nobody. Wait, glancing bit further down, there was the little mimic. With its lid slightly parted and long tongue lolling out, it clattered cheerfully. Stubby feet tapping, it hurried up to his leg. First he would get few nudges towards entrance. Then it tried to clamp onto his pant leg, tugging the fabric insistently. This was going to continue until the guest got the hint. Come in, come in, the tiny familiar tried to tell him.
Inside the hut, the small witch was still fast asleep against her table. Evidently the noise hadn’t quite pierced her slumber. She was surrounded by piles of books and notes. Working past midnight was nothing new for her. There was truth to calling it the witching hour after all. Sometimes her research left no time for rest. However, skipping sleep was a debt that had to be paid eventually. She was completely out of it, snoozing peacefully against her makeshift pillow. Her hair cascaded messily across the books. Few drops of drool stained the page. Softly her back shifted with each breath. Looking at such a serene scene, it was hard to believe this was someone wicked.
However, the peace wasn’t meant to last. Suddenly Lilith twitched. Her face furrowed, as if in pain. The breathing quickened. She mumbled something incoherent and fearful. Sniffling weakly, she clutched a book and turned her head away. "No..." Meanwhile, Chester was now growing frantic. As the girl tossed and turned in her sleep, the little chest stomped its legs. With surprising agility, it bounced from the floor onto a chair and finally the table. Clattering quickly and anxiously, it tried to nudge its Mistress awake. No avail... So it turned to stare at Russ expectantly. Erm, as expectantly as one could without any eyes or face. Words: 336 [Total = 5356] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Jan 28, 2019 4:21:42 GMT -5
As the door opened, Russ scattered to properly greet his companion. He straitened his posture, held a palm up, and looked her directly in her nonexistent eyes. “Good morning, Lil-” Something about those eyes tipped him off. Panning downwards netted him the sight of the dog mimic instead. “Oh.” How exactly did this thing open the door without any arms? The obvious answer would be ‘magic’, but perhaps he could leave that question for an actual expert. “Huh.”
It did not take much to get him into the hut. What he struggled with was the arduous task of attempting to close the door behind him without ripping off a section of his pant leg. After all is said and done, the familiar possessed quite a fair bit of bite strength. He could hardly fault it for being too strong in that regard.
Once fully inside, a left brow raised as his right eye squinted at the resting witch. He shook his head briefly with a smile thereafter. The girl was probably still tired from yesterday’s events, or so he assumed. It was best to leave her be in that; admittedly somewhat adorable; state. Yet, just as he began approaching her bed to retrieve a blanket, the corner of his eye caught the sight of an energetic little Chester zooming past his legs.
He could only watch in awe while it attempted to awaken its owner. Now, it appeared to be his turn. “No way, Jose.” Barely above a peep, but not quite a whisper. Panic rushed through his veins like water through a dam. “If she wakes up with me in here, I’m dead.” ‘Dead’ was an exaggeration, especially considering the warmth she displayed earlier. “Ok, maybe not dead, but it’s really embarrassing.”
A moral dilemma came into play. Should he wake her up and risk being weird? Should he leave quietly and let her rest more? Should he just teleport into the sun to avoid this situation altogether? Teeth gritted against one another. He stared at his slumbering companion. With such an uncomfortable sleeping position and a potential nightmare, one would think that she could rise by herself. But on the off chance that she did not, there was no telling what condition the girl might suffer- back problems and all from hunching over a desk over long periods of time.
He finally relented.
“Hey, Lily.” Placing a hand upon her left shoulder, Russ gently shook the witch. “C’mon, wake up.”
( Word Count : 0, 434 ) [ Total Word Count : 6, 364 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Jan 29, 2019 2:49:36 GMT -5
The Saiyan’s try proved immediately more effective. His gentle gesture made the struggling witch quiver weakly. Perhaps having actual hands made all the difference. Words certainly helped too. His voice managed to pierce the veil. She suddenly snapped free from her nightmare with a shrill cry. "Mommy!" In her immediate panic, she tore herself away from the touch. ...And promptly tumbled onto the floor. Trembling hands desperately reached for her sash. The wand... Where was her wand...? The teary crimson eyes blinked, taking in the familiar surroundings in hasty glances. Table. Chair. ...Legs. She slowly stared up at her friend. Finally the sleepy haze faded away and the reality returned.
...Oh.
Cheeks burning scarlet, the young noble scrambled back onto her feet. Her hands just couldn’t stay still. They dusted her clothes and brushed her messy hair in effort to distract her. She gathered the scraps of her dignity and cleared her throat. "Ahem, good morning, Sir Russ. I... uh... trust the forest critters let you sleep peacefully?" She wanted to kick herself for fumbling with mere small-talk. Awkward questions swirled in her mind. How much had he seen? Heard? What if he asked? Would she able to lie convincingly enough? Her gaze narrowed cautiously, trying to gauge the young man’s reaction. She could never quite guess what was going through his head.
Desperate to shift the topic onto literally anything else, Lilith brought up the first thing that popped to mind. "W-would you care for some breakfast? I could conjure something palatable for both of us." Insistent patting of wood against wood caught her attention. A certain chest was putting up a tiny protest. Her strained expression softened. With a gentle sigh she reached to pet the mimic. "Fine, fine, three of us." Usually she would’ve kept any displays of affection strictly in private. However, something about Russ made that feel... silly. He was so genuine about everything. In front of him, there was no point in pretending that she didn’t have a soft spot for magical creatures. Especially ones that had kept her company for years. Words: 353 [Total = 5709] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Jan 29, 2019 9:23:27 GMT -5
That certainly settled the matter at hand. It was just a nightmare. Scrambled confusion took place at the strangest of times, but being woken up seemed to be a common trend with that. It left him mildly befuddled. He stood still, watching her shuffle and shift about in a hurried commotion. A hand almost reached over to steady her him prior before she to do that all on her own. For the sake of his companion’s health, Russ hoped that this was not a common occurrence.
When she finally caught her footing, a smirk replaced his ordinarily flat expression. “Morning, Lily.” As good a start to their day as any other. Albeit, getting used to the honorific would take some time- as would the concern displayed to him. “Didn’t sleep much- I was up most of the night.” That he was. Doing kai-know-what at some ungodly hour hardly weighed his stamina. The only qualms he had with it came from the monotony and complexity of various processes involved. Hence, her next proposition appeared well-received by him.
“Breakfast sounds like a good idea right about now!” It aligned entirely with what he had in mind. However, a significant change in methods charged at her from his throat. “But I was thinking about visiting a town with you for some food and groceries- Chester can come along too. ” And there it was. Social elements were added to the brew along with commuting out of the forest. If he seemed oblivious as to the implications of his idea, the next statement might give one the impression that he possessed the intelligence of a mineral.
“Y’know, kind of like a daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-” Russ dragged out that syllable for a few moments. He sounded almost akin to a dial tone for that span of time. What was the word again? For some reason or another, it evaded him. “-aaaaaaaaay out.” Day out. That will do. He had nothing else to add to the subject matter after that.
The boy continued as if nothing strange occurred in the slightest. “So how about it?”
( Word Count : 0, 367 ) [ Total Word Count : 6, 731 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Jan 30, 2019 7:15:30 GMT -5
For someone so used to the threat of dying, the young witch found herself oddly relieved that she avoided death by embarrassment. Being subjected to the much too casual nickname was a small price to pay. Her curiosity was sparked again when the man mentioned staying up all night. Something big and important must have been taking his time... Part of her regretted she hadn’t allowed the forest creatures to spy on him. However, it was her pride on the line. It was fine though. She could handle this...
However, horror lurked right behind the corner. Lilith’s thoughts snapped back to the present painfully. Wide-eyed and speechless, she could only stare at him incredulously. At first she thought she misheard. Going out of the forest was, well, frankly a ridiculous suggestion. Unfortunately Russ clearly wasn’t joking. Slowly a luminescent pink color spread across her features. She was suddenly all too aware of how the gentle light brushed against his rugged features. Glimmering stars clouded her vision, bouncing playfully off of his toned, glistening... No, nononono, focus on the eyes. His deep, captivating eyes... Wait. Did he just suggest... a date? Cue the internal screaming.
Chester, on the other hand, was visibly excited at the prospect of visiting new places and eating new people. With happy claps of the lid, he voiced his agreement. Feet tapping, he eagerly hopped around and round the guest’s legs. Yes, take the hungry mimic along to a place filled with food. What could possibly go wrong?
Faced with a sudden question, the little lady wanted to reflexively shoot him down. Well, slap him across the face actually. She wanted to say no. Absolutely not. Never in a million years would she- "If you insist..." She couldn’t even maintain eye contact while meekly accepting. More internal screaming. Even deep breaths couldn’t silence it. "I should warn you, however..." Clutching her arm, she hesitated. Doubts were already bubbling. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Well, yes, she knew that, but she needed to make him understand that as well. "I... My clan is not exactly beloved out there." And there was the understatement of the day. Several lifetimes of tyranny and terror tended to shape people’s opinions just a bit.
Regardless, the young noble snapped her fingers and the wide-brimmed hat appeared on her head. A beckoning finger called a floating broom from the corner of her bed. Clutching it for safety, she tried her hardest to sound nonchalant. Even when her face was anything but. "Where were you planning to go?" She would follow along wherever he went, yes, but she didn’t have to like it... Words: 450 [Total = 6159] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Jan 30, 2019 9:42:33 GMT -5
Her nervousness was expected by him. Living alone in the woods did little to help one’s social skills or confidence in crowded places. Russ was not exactly a shining beacon of charisma, but perhaps this trip could act as a stepping stone for his friend. “Nah, people will probably think you’re a role-player or something.” The boy looked at his companion’s pointy hat. He gave no explanation as to what the strange term meant. “Speaking of, we should probably get you some normal clothes before going for breakfast.” Thinking about shopping made him shudder. Hopefully, they could get through that quickly.
Thereafter, his mood brightened up once more. “Plus we’re in the thirteenth century!” Eyelids fell while a few chuckles filled the air. “Nobody’s weird about witches now.” Truth be told, he found the situation mildly amusing. It only excited him more to show her how; well, for lack of a more flattering word; open the outside world had become. “Not when aliens tried to blow up the planet a million times over already.” Though, openness and generosity were Earth’s weakness from time to time. He only hoped that the aforementioned aspects would result in its downfall.
Anxious thoughts were cast aside. “We’re headed to north city.” He answered aptly. Good weather, nice people, and somewhat close to where they were. It was the best location he could think of. “Oh, one second.” The young man held up an index finger. A gesture to wait, no doubt. He disappeared the instant after his announcement.
When he next appeared, Russ seemed somewhat formal. Clothes; proper clothes; lined the surface of his otherwise muscle-bound features. He wore a snow-coloured jacket over a loose, red t-shirt. Jeans, without so much as a tear or gash, seemed well-fitted compared to the top. With hair gelled down and his face devoid of bandages, the teenager looked almost like a completely different person. The only notable features that remained were the scars and sharp features.
“Alright, let’s-a-go.” The completely-normal-person scratched the right side of his cheek as he awaited a response.
( Word Count : 0, 387 ) [ Total Word Count : 7, 118 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Jan 31, 2019 10:56:21 GMT -5
Admittedly, Lilith’s flustered worries were blown away for a moment there. Just not for the reasons one might hope... The blush faded. Her expression soured. "Wait... What do you mean normal clothes?" His poor word choice wounded her. Deeply. Puffing her petite chest proudly, she took it upon herself to educate the tactless peasant. "I’ll have you know this style has been passed down the Nevermore family line for generations." As far as she was concerned, dark robes and pointy hats, especially the enchanted kind, were always fashionable.
It was painfully obvious to the young noble that her guest didn’t quite understand her concerns. He was just so hopelessly naive... "I wouldn’t be so sure..." If she knew one thing about peasants, it was that they loved to bicker over the smallest differences. Something as ridiculous as power levels, whatever that nonsense was, could result in fiery arguments and bitter frustration. "But if I am fortunate, they won’t recognize me." She could hope so at least.
Before the young noble could protest this honestly terrible idea further, poof, the bright-eyed man was gone. Envy stung in her soul. Oh how badly she wanted to figure out this Instant Transmission technique... However, her glare mellowed when Russ appeared again. No longer did he sport the homeless martial artist look. In fact... He looked good... Erm, proper. Yes. Properly dressed for the occasion and nothing more.
Sighing heavily, the witch sat on her hovering broom. "Very well then. North City it shall be..." She wagged a finger- "Minimize." -and with a twinkle of magic Chester shrunk down to the size of a ring box. Showing off his surprising agility yet again, he bounced onto the broom as well and scampered up into the girl’s sleeve. Apparently the hidden pocket was cozy. Drifting out the door, the girl cast a glance towards the young man. "I trust you know how to fly there?" She wasn’t opposed to leading the way, but... Well, in case any would-be world saviors crossed their path, she would rather have someone else take the brunt of their rudeness. Words: 357 [Total = 6516] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Feb 1, 2019 13:24:01 GMT -5
“Yuh-huh!” The boy excitedly exclaimed directly in response to her query. Of course he knew the way there. If otherwise, the use and abuse of warping between two points in space would do just the trick. Stepping outside, he lifted a hand to the side of his mouth to holler at the wind. “Nimbus!” Russ yelled and waited. Not too long after, a pale golden dot could be seen high overhead. It grew bigger, bigger still until emerging over branches and leaves completely with frightening speed.
A grand daffodil-coloured cloud sat before them. With such a colossal size, it even managed to span far towards the tent he set up a day prior. Easily mistaken for a certain other nimbus of legend, this one seemed far too enormous to fit any given description. The Saiyan nonchalantly hopped on to the nearest puff available to sit. Immediately, the mist shot upwards and above the treetops.
The cloud kept a steady pace. Leaves, branches, and eventually even plains raced backwards beneath them. Unlike teleportation, flying never managed to get old for him. No matter how many times he felt the winds rushing past his ears and eyes, it always felt exhilarating. All his mortal worries were brushed off; if not for just a moment during the flight. He wondered if this was all second nature to his friend.
“You’ll be fine.” Reassurance was given once again. “Trust me, I saved the world twice already,” he stated, lifting a finger to tap on a temple. Was it twice or three times? He did not bother to keep count. “And nobody knows who I am either!” Maybe this said more his reputation than the memory of those on Earth. Either way, effort was put into trying to calm the witch.
It would not be long before they reached the city.
( Word Count : 0, 3 ) [ Total Word Count : 7, 444 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Feb 3, 2019 8:14:14 GMT -5
Flying in itself was nothing unusual. The wicked witch had noticed that nowadays even the most pathetic simpletons could learn to fly. Some even unassisted. However, some methods were so peculiar even the usually expressionless girl quirked a curious brow. What on earth was he doing now...? Nimbus...? Why did that sound vaguely familiar? She glanced upwards at the approaching dot... And her jaw dropped. Nothing intelligent came out, however. As the enormous cloud took off, she was left staring blankly for a good moment or so. Was that the legendary...? She shook the distracting thoughts out of her head and turned her broom after the man.
While Russ had good intentions, his kind words sadly fell to deaf ears. Lilith was much too busy feverishly jotting down notes about the magical cloud. Scribble, scribble, scribble... Any faster and the page would catch fire. There was something to be said about writing while flying, but no amount of safety instructions could stop her now. Suddenly she swooped right up to the Saiyan. Her eyes held that excited glimmer again. "Russ, that’s the Nimbus, isn’t it? Of course it is, you called it by the name... Does it only obey you? Can it understand your speech? Is it true that you have to have a pure heart to ride it?" One after another, the eager questions kept flowing. And every answer provided would be written down carefully.
Unfortunately, North City approached much too soon. Towering buildings nestled between mighty mountains. People mingled on the streets like colorful ants. Reluctantly the young noble made his notebook and quill vanish. "Ugh... Here we are, I suppose..." Was it too late to think of an excuse and just go home? As tempting as the thought was, her pride would never let her run away like that. With a heavy sigh, she brought her broom down at nice and quiet side street. She could already feel the peasants gawking... Pointing... Whispering... It took a lot of self-control not to reach for her wand. But the first person to question her outfit or to recognize the family crest was getting turned into ice, she swore it. Words: 362 [Total = 6878] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Feb 7, 2019 2:06:52 GMT -5
Along came another series of questions. This round managed to jab his mind in areas yet unknown. Despite his speed, he was unable to keep up with his companion’s cutting curiosity. A finger lifted to scratch behind his right ear. “I don’t really know the answers to a lot of those,” Russ answered the lot of them with a single statement. “A Kai said that it was a huge nimbus, but didn’t go into a ton of depth with it.” Servitude, sentience, some level of pureness- all areas unknown to him. He did not bother looking into it too much. Magic clouds were nice. That was the extent of his knowledge.
Landing his vehicle posed no trouble for the boy. After all, he did not have to direct it in the first place. What seemed curious however, were the stares in their direction. They appeared numerous enough to send a shiver down his own spine. Compared to the crows from yesterday, these gazes felt outright intrusive to him. Regular movements turned robotic as he stood up and waved the Nimbus goodbye. It looked like he was hailing a taxi in the sky.
Deep breaths Russ. Remember your training.
The image of an incoming fist drifted into his mind.
“So where do you want to head to first?” He asked Lillith thereafter. Despite the strangers continuing to stare at them, the boy had already calmed down. If anything, it was the Nimbus’ fault for being so legendary. In his mind, he deemed it the fault of that mystical item for attracting so much attention. “I was thinking about clothes, but you’re probably right.”
His right thumb raised yet again. “If pointy hats and robes makes you happy, then we shouldn’t bother changing it.” Either this was a change of heart or something more sinister. Could it be a taunt to his acquaintance? A declaration of superiority in the guise of regular clothing? Or far more devilishly, empathy for a friend?
( Word Count : 0, 359 ) [ Total Word Count : 7, 803 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Feb 8, 2019 2:08:03 GMT -5
As Lilith couldn’t quite grasp the concept of empathy, she was immediately drawn to the more negative conclusion. Her eyes narrowed and lips thinned into a slanted line. "...Are you taunting me? Because I feel I’m being taunted." It couldn’t have been that the boy simply had a change of heart. No, he was much too hard-headed for that. Marched to the beat of his own drum. He was plotting something... Brewing a sinister plan beneath that friendly mask... She was sure of it.
Arms folded, the young witch scoffed at his claims. She wouldn’t fall for his obvious provocations. While she was half-tempted to remind him about her family line and all it entailed, she needed something more... concrete. "For your information, it’s not simply about being happy. These enchanted robes are worth more than the combined livelihoods of an entire village." Then again, she probably shouldn’t expect an outsider to understand the effort that went to imbuing clothes with magic. So, head held high, she smugly pointed out the far more obvious benefit. "They also accentuate my beautiful figure without coming off as smutty, a feat only a witch can pull off." Well, even that part was arguable. Not much to accentuate...
Before the young lady could further defend her attire, an awkward whine interrupted her thoughts. Flushing a bright shade of red, she quickly pretended to clear her throat. "A-hem, at any rate... I would prefer it if we went to get some breakfast first." Desperate to save face, she preemptively waved away any questionable ideas the man may have gotten. "I’m not hungry, of course not. It’s just... C-chester is growing anxious. Yes. Chester." In response, the little chest peeked from her sleeve, clattered a little and skittered back into hiding. Maybe it agreed.
Turning to observe the street, the noble tried to spot some sort of eatery. Her pride didn’t let her admit that she had never actually dined outside of home. Fortunately, she had a devilishly simple plan for that... "Any preference on where to eat?" She cast an idle look towards Russ, trying to read his reactions. Surely he, as a commoner who ate among other commoners, would lead her somewhere specific. Meanwhile, behind them the staring people had begun to whisper and point more feverishly. Some looks were quizzical, others angry. Women and children were being ushered away. A mob was slowly forming... Words: 410 [Total = 7288] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Feb 8, 2019 4:41:04 GMT -5
From taunts to enchanted garb, the topics raised stirred a feeling of unease in him. They were not on the greatest of terms when trust was involved, but he assumed that she would give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Hrm, I guess that makes sens-” Smutty. His expression displayed confusion as the sentence cut off. “It’s amazing how you can say that with a straight face.” Almost as if invoking the spirit of East-City light novels, a large drop of sweat formed near his left temple. He shot the witch a glance through narrowed eyes. Russ had to remind himself that he was with a rather dangerous person at the moment. Not physically dangerous, but socially so. The manner in which she spoke and conducted herself posed a great threat to him. Even after the declaration of friendship took place, there was bound to be some sort of pecking order between them.
Pecking order. Pecking ordeal. Peking duck. Paramecium.
”Damn it.” He thought while starting to wander off into an overly complex analysis of his not-so-complex situation. She had him cornered. By denying that she was hungry and shifting the blame to the familiar, it meant that either the previous topic was embarrassing or that the familiar was hungry. Could it be the latter? No, too early to assume anything. Such a simple conversation evolved into something more. It was a battle of wills, wits, and everything in-between.
Too can play at that game. He would have to pull out all the stops with this next manoeuvre. “Well, I heard they set up a new restaurant around here.” First, a short explanation of recent ongoings. “It’s supposed to be a tribute to Delicious Saikan on Papaya Island, but I don’t think that’s a good place for breakfast.” Casual redirection. Russ was getting the hang of this. He had no idea why he was crafting a plot to lead them to a good place for breakfast, but he had to admit that it was fun.
“Oh, I know!” That he did. That he did this entire time. “We should go to Hercule Cafe.” His favourite restaurant. The Satan City branch was held in high regard as one of the best eateries on the planet, but a few popular offshoots resided in the Major Cities as well. This was his plan all along- to get them good food. Conniving as always.
The crowd gathering was paid no attention to. He casually beckoned his companion along the path to their destination. Choosing a difficult thought process felt surprisingly more enjoyable than he anticipated.
( Word Count : 0, 486 ) [ Total Word Count : 8, 288 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Feb 9, 2019 3:27:16 GMT -5
When Russ voiced his thoughts, Lilith recoiled defensively. "What? Did I say something odd?" She was vaguely aware that her particular choice of articulation could be considered... outdated. Unusual for the modern times. It didn’t help that majority of the books she studied were written in old, sometimes ancient dialect. At least she had gotten rid of the thous, arts and such... Mostly. Some spells required them... Trying to control her blush, she let the matter slide for now. "Hmph, never mind. It matters not." Nope, not at all. Didn’t bother her one bit... Only immensely.
Suspicions grew like thorny brambles within the wicked woman’s mind. The crimson eyes narrowed. Imaginary bolts crackled between the odd duo. This was no longer a leisurely outing... Or even a date... This was war. A battle of two keen minds seeking their own benefit. For her the benefit was obviously proving the young man wrong, showing him that this had been a terrible idea all along. As for him... She honestly couldn’t tell and it irked her to no end. This dead man, Russ, was a mystery wrapped in an enigma and shrouded in misdirection. Even if she considered herself above him in terms of social status, she wasn’t foolish enough to underestimate him on the field of words. One wrong move and the victory would slip from her grasp.
Meanwhile, back in reality...
The young witch lifted a brow at the suggestion. "Hercule Cafe?" She echoed the familiar name quizzically. No, the sheltered girl didn’t know what a cafe meant, but she wasn’t going to admit that. Instead, she was going to think about this logically... "You mean they have built some manner of shrine to that pagan deity all the way here?" Supposedly this Hercule was a legendary martial arts god from ages past. Bah... Whoever worshiped a god like that was a grand moron. Still... Worshipers tended to make the best foods for their tributes... "Very well then. Lead the way." She moved to his side, buuut kept enough distance to make sure people wouldn’t get the wrong idea.
Hercule Cafe turned out to be one of those establishments one couldn’t possibly miss. The massive sign styled like a broad, decorated belt certainly helped. Stepping inside, one was assaulted with a dizzying scent of strong coffee, meaty sandwiches and what was probably pure testosterone. A young girl behind the counter wore a brown uniform with a hat that resembled an afro for some reason. Upon spotting the young duo, the clerk flashed a huge smile. "Ah, welcome to Hercule Cafe, the cafe of the champ~! You know, with the Valentine’s day drawing close, we are running a special discount for couples~! If you let us snap a picture of you kissing and hang it on our wall, you get your whole order at half price~!" The silence that followed was suffocating. Lilith didn’t say a word. Instead she slowly reached for her wand... Words: 504 [Total = 7792] T
|
|
|
|
Post by T on Feb 10, 2019 12:33:38 GMT -5
Casual conversation broke his chain of thought. The topic of a legendary figure piqued his interest- especially when they had their own merchandise. “I think that dude’s a one of the strongest people ever,” Russ voiced what he knew about the figure. “Nobody seriously worships him,” the adolescent announced flatly as he looked from left to right. Nobody did think of him as a god, but there was no telling when someone weird might show up. “But he does have some neat comics and brands.” Namely, the cafe that they were headed to.
Of which seemed somehow more thematic that he remembered it being. Different sites held their own charming airs to them, he supposed. The chain they visited was a proper restaurant after all. He always found his wallet slightly lighter after every one of his visits to the establishments. Gods only know if he could even afford to visit the original five-star location in Satan City. And as if fate itself took pity of his financial status, a new offer made itself present.
“Half price?” Those were the only words that managed to stand out. He rubbed his chin, pondering upon the discount. “That’s not ba-”
Russ could feel the murderous intent in the air.
“AAAAAAAaaaahummm.” Reality flooded back into play. Manoeuvring himself in-between the waitress and his friend, the boy cleared his throat. Eyelids lifted up as he smiled nervously. In truth, he was only half-listening to what the offer was. Connecting the dots of their current debacle seemed like a Herculean trial in of itself without proper information. Synapses fired up in his brain. He had to piece together what he heard. Champ. Valentines. Couples. The answer was just within reach. “We’re just friends, so that’s a no-go on that deal!” Giving the staff member a thumbs up, a free hand pointed to a table by the window. “Hey look a table for two!”
By the time one might look at the table, the young man would have already been sitting down. His eyes peeked over the menu in his hands at both Lillith and the afro-waitress. Waiting for a response with bated breath, an arm was raised overhead to wave at the friend. Even if this did not attract her attention, it probably made a few people look over in surprise. Superhuman speed combined with anxiousness managed to do that much.
( Word Count : 0, 4 ) [ Total Word Count : 8, 710 ]
Lilith Nevermore
|
|
|
|
Post by Lilith Nevermore on Feb 11, 2019 11:38:03 GMT -5
Sometimes, immense awkwardness managed to accomplish what sweet words could not. Like right now for instance. Lilith shifted her gaze between Russ and the puzzled waitress. Her killing intent deflated like a little, black balloon. A tired wheeze left her lips. "Right... Just friends." Ignoring how weird that word still felt, she summoned something vaguely resembling an icy glare. "And don’t you dare assume otherwise..." The waitress only managed to get out a confused laugh, adding to the awkwardness. At least the wicked witch put her wand away. So... Victory for Russ? Yeah, he could count that as a victory. Another life saved.
Shuffling over to the table, the witch wagged a finger and the seat slid to her. She sat down opposite of the man and gently set her hat aside. Another curl of the digit and a menu opened up before her eyes. Carefully she went through the items, growing slightly more flustered with each entry. These were all... utter nonsense. A baffled brow rose at the odd names. She didn’t know what on earth was a triple deluxe macho macchiato and frankly she didn’t want to know. Usually she had someone cook for her and even then they were traditional meals like beans on toast.
Once again, it was up to the hero to save the day. Only this time the maiden didn’t want to ask for help. "Sir Russ..." Coyly she searched for a word choice that didn’t immediately betray her ignorance. "...you chose this place, so I would assume you know which meals are palatable, correct?" So far so good. She could just feign mild unfamiliarity, far less embarrassing than the truth. Setting the menu aside, she voiced her nonchalant question. "What would you recommend for a light breakfast?" Beneath the polite mask her hidden smile sharpened to a devilish crescent. Perfect. He wouldn’t suspect a thing... Words: 318 [Total = 8110] T
|
|
|